Week 16: January 15, 2018: “Familia Zapata”
Dear Familia, amigos y mundo,
This past week was a great one! Mostly because
we did have another baptism! But, before I get to that let me get through the
other details that happened in the week! The beginning of the week was good! We
had to try to meet with anyone and everyone before we left for the multi zona (Multi-Zone
Conference) that we had on Friday. We left on Thursday night because it’s a 6
hour long bus ride from our area! Usually it’s just 2 but there have been problems
lately with the normal route. So, we got to work visiting with everyone trying
to get work done contacting and teaching and bringing people to repentance and
such! And It went by pretty fast! This past week kinda blew by and it’s a
little bit of a blur if I’m honest! But, I’m sad to say that we did not have
the amount of attendance to church that we wanted. We only had 3 people come to
church which is about half or a little less than the past two weeks. It just
shows that even 2 days being gone really affects what our investigators do.
Which is kinda sad because you hope that they believe enough or have enough
faith to actually just come. But, in reality, they are still learning and
sometimes need that little push. It’s just how we are though as members... we
aren’t perfect and we think that we are all great and independent but in
reality, we do have a crutch and that’s our Savior and God. Man think about it, are we ever really
100% independent? NO! And if you say yes, you’re wrong and I can say
that because I know! We all need a little push a little something to get us
going, to keep us active, to stay on the straight and narrow path! And some
need it more like these wonderful people I get to teach here, they just need a
little bit more to build that faith to where it needs to be!
Well, our baptism was great it was a little
different from my first one because I actually got to do the ordinance of
baptism on the mom Yolanda Zapata! And, it was quite the experience! She has
grown so much spiritually in the past month or so. She went from a person not
so willing to change to a person with a sweet and amazing testimony! She had
some doubts about the baptism though... Not because of anything in the church
but because she was worried about her foot! When we first started to teach her
she had burned her food badly! She had dropped boiling hot water on it! Well,
it is almost healed and we invited her to be baptized about a week and a half
ago! And she said yes but then was like "What about my foot? I can’t get
baptized." Then, I told her how the blessings of baptism are honestly more
important and also how it really won’t affect her foot that much at all. And it
was interesting to see before the baptism a former sister missionary talked to
her and had heard a little
bit of what she said and it went a little like this, "I know it is
hard and you are worried for your foot but the reality of it is this baptism
will give you blessings and it will be worth it....." and some more stuff that I didn’t understand because it was a
personal conversation and it was in Spanish... haha but no that
touched my heart and it made me so happy to have great people in our humble
ramas (branches). They really are great! I am grateful for this former sister
missionary and her comforting words! Well, it was touching to just see the
progress of this family of the mom and daughter and how they changed. They were
completely willing to just turn away from sin and from the world to start on the
path to return to Our Heavenly Father! Well, I got to baptize and it was great!
I got all the words right and her name right too! The tricky part was getting
her up out of the water! But, I am happy to say that I am a wrestler and I was
strong enough to do it! And it was just, just, just FELIZ! She came out of the
baptismal font with a smile and gave me the biggest smile and a thumbs up! That
touched me! The difference in this meeting was that it was just a lot more joy!
The last one was amazing as well, but it was different in the fact that
everyone just couldn’t stop smiling and I was overwhelmed with joy! And so was
this familia! I felt the Spirit in a more subtle way and also with just
happiness! It was great and there was a lot of love. And once again hearing the
testimony of these two was great! The mom’s testimony really got to me. She
spoke soft but she knew what she was saying. I couldn’t quite hear or
understand everything but I knew and felt the truth of what she was testifying!
I loved it!
We traveled to Buccaramanga and it was great!
We learned a lot and it’s always fun to reunite with some other gringos! And it’s
interesting to watch my comp there because that was his first area and he’s
like a little kid in a candy shop just so happy haha. But it was great we were
kinda sad though because the numbers of referencias (referrals) we had compared
to the others were lacking... And so now we have to work double time with members
and everyone to get our numbers up. But it’s a lot more filling when you work
hard and at the end of the day or cambio (change) knowing you’ve done all that
you can to meet goals and help the area! I can’t wait to finish those cambio
off strong in the next two weeks!
I love this gospel and I know it blesses
families! My family is an example but most of all this family! Familia Zapata
is a great example! The Gospel has a way to take the weak and make them strong!
The Atonement of Christ is so real and we have this amazing opportunity to share
and give it to people! And it’s amazing to see little by little (poco a poco)
people changing! I know it’s true! I know that Jesus atoned for us! And, I know
we can use it to help us become the people God wants us to be and to work
towards that goal of trying to be as his son Jesus Christ! It’s hard! My
mission president told me in an interview that we are told its the straight and
narrow path but some people say it’s like the straight and narrowing path! And
that’s soooo true! Yes, its straight but that doesn’t mean that it’s not hard!
I see the Atonement changing me every day! As I battle self-conflict, and try
to become more patient and humble everyday with myself, with my companion, and with
our investigators! This gospel is sooooo true!! UGH, I FREAKING LOVE THE
GOSPEL! So, come partake of the sweet fruits we have! It’s worth it!
Love,
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